Pathfinders Health Community: Artificial Intelligence is no substitute for a doctor yet

29th August 2019

Health community think tanks this year discussed how to
address the challenges of deploying artificial intelligence. The discussion
found that systematic and structured data collection and changes in the
financing of the whole process were a prerequisite for moving forward with
artificial intelligence.

According to Piret Hirv, head of the Connected Health Cluster, collaboration between stakeholders is a prerequisite for the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare. “It’s quite clear that artificial intelligence will be used more and more in future medicine, but it’s not going to replace a doctor anytime soon. Rather, artificial intelligence in the future will provide us with quick and convenient answers based on our own health data. Today, many people turn to Google to find answers and make decisions about their health based on what they read, which is probably no longer needed. Certainly, the health technology cluster will also contribute to the real benefit of AI for patients and doctors in the future, ”explained Hirv.

Minister of Social Affairs Tanel Kiik, at the Health Community think tank, confirmed that he is rather optimistic about artificial intelligence, but admits that the topic needs public debate.

According to Kiige, artificial intelligence is something that raises curiosity and questions, but also concerns and prejudices. “There are those who see AI as a success story and an opportunity to increase efficiency and provide better quality services, but also those who think it can create inequalities. It is certainly important to open up this topic and think about how we can move forward together in developing the health system. ”

The minister added that there are many issues in the air, but he believes that society is ready for the debate on artificial intelligence. “Where do we go about empowering, where is the responsibility? If the computer gives bad advice or makes the wrong decision, who is responsible? Where is the boundary between AI’s rights, responsibilities and ethics? In Estonian society, there is a need for peaceful dialogue on these issues, be it in health care, the legal system or transport. ”

The brainstorming session suggested that general issues such
as data protection or ethics should be discussed first and then move to
sector-specific issues and address health-specific issues. The regulation of
AI, including the issues of who is responsible when an AI makes a mistake,
should be universal, not sector-specific.

Riina Sikkut, a member of the Riigikogu and former Minister
of Health, pointed out whether anyone should be blamed at all – it is possible
to learn from mistakes and maybe we should think about compensating for damages
instead of blaming them.

Reports confirmed that we are far from replacing doctors:
artificial intelligence is a technology and it is a matter of choice, how to
use it, how much to make decisions, and to what extent to support decisions.

Peeter Ross, a professor at the Institute of Health Technologies at Tallinn University of Technology and Head of the Center for E-Medicine, also works as a radiologist at East Tallinn Central Hospital and is an e-health consultant at the World Bank and Asian Development Bank. In the report, he wondered if artificial intelligence always works with a health worker or can he replace a health worker?

“The question is not whether artificial intelligence replaces the doctor or not – the answer is no. The doctors who use the tools supported by artificial intelligence will win, ”Ross said.

The discussion emphasized that systematic and structured
data collection and changes in funding were a prerequisite for moving forward
with artificial intelligence.

Health Community Brainstorming Craziers “How to Apply
Artificial Intelligence in Health Care? Legal, Ethical and Technical Issues in
Artificial Intelligence Deployment ”took place on August 27 in Laitse.

The Connected Health Cluster, led by Tehnopol Science Park,
is the largest health technology community in Estonia, bringing together health
service providers, health technology companies, and all other relevant
stakeholders. With the help of the cluster, it is possible to carry out
national cooperation projects and export health technology solutions to other
countries as well.